Method for polishing edge of glass substrate of display panel

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a method for polishing edge of glass substrate of display panel, which includes (1) conveying a glass substrate of a display panel to be polished to a polishing device and positioning the glass substrate for being subsequently polished by a grindstone of the polishing device; (2) providing first and second stop boards; (3) moving the first stop board to contact an upper surface of the glass substrate and moving the second stop board to contact a lower surface of the glass substrate; and (4) carrying out an edge polishing operation. By arranging the stop boards between the polished area and the non-polished area of the glass substrate, the glass chips generated during the polishing operation are prevented from flying and attaching to the surfaces of the non-polished area of the glass substrate during the polishing operation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of precision machining, and in particular to a method for polishing an edge of a glass substrate of a display panel.

2. The Related Arts

Flat panel displays have a variety of advantages, such as thin device body, low power consumption, and being free of radiation, and is thus widely used. The currently available flat panel displays include liquid crystal displays (LCDs) and organic light emitting display (OLEDs).

Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional liquid crystal display device generally comprises a backlight module 100, a mold frame 300 arranged on the backlight module 100, a liquid crystal display panel 500 arranged on the mold frame 300, and a front bezel 700 arranged on the liquid crystal display panel 500. The backlight module 100 comprises a backplane 110, a backlight source 130 arranged in the backplane 110, a reflector plate 150 arranged in the backplane 110, a light guide plate 170 arranged on the reflector plate 150, and an optic film assembly 190 arranged on the light guide plate 170. The mold frame 300 supports the liquid crystal display panel 500 and the front bezel 700 is coupled to the backplane 110 of the backlight module 100 for being assembled as a liquid crystal display device. The liquid crystal display panel 500 comprises a TFT (Thin-Film Transistor) substrate 502, a CF (Color Filter) substrate 504 that is set opposite to and laminated on the TFT substrate 502, and liquid crystal molecules 506 interposed between the TFT substrate 502 and the CF substrate 504. The TFT substrate 502 comprises a first glass substrate 522 and TFTs 524 formed on the first glass substrate 522. The CF substrate 504 comprises a second glass substrate 542 and a color filter 544 formed on the second glass substrate 542.

Referring to FIG. 3, a conventional organic light-emitting display panel generally comprises a glass substrate 900, a transparent conductive layer 902 formed on the glass substrate 900, a hole transport layer (HTL) 904 formed on the transparent conductive layer 902, an organic emitting material layer (EML) 906 formed on the HTL 904, an electron transport layer (ETL) 908 formed on the EML 906, and a cathode 909 formed on the ETL 908. The transparent conductive layer 902 functions as an anode of the organic light-emitting display panel and is generally formed of an indium tin oxide (ITO). When the organic light-emitting display panel is subjected to a forward bias induced by a direct current (DC), the energy of the applied voltage drives electrons and holes to inject into the organic light-emitting display panel from the cathode 909 and the anode 902 respectively. When an electron and a hole meet and combine with each other during the transmission thereof, it is referred to as electron-hole capture. When the chemical molecules of the EML 906 are subjected to excitation by external energy, if electron spin is paired with ground electronic, then it is singlet and the light emitted is fluorescence; otherwise the excited electron and the ground electron are not paired in respect of electron spin and are parallel to each other, then it is triplet and the light released therefrom is phosphorescence. When the state of an electron returns from an excited high-energy level to a stable low-energy level, the energy will be released in the form of light emission or heat dissipation, of which the light emission can be used in a display function.

Both of the flat display panels discussed above include glass substrates. A glass substrate is generally formed by a process including cutting a large piece of glass panel and subjecting the cut glass to edge polishing. A conventional glass substrate edge polishing machine that is used to polish edges of a glass substrate often causes glass chips to fly and attach to a non-polished area. To ensure surface cleanness of the non-polished area of the glass substrate in order not to affect subsequent manufacturing process, a known solution is to directly rinse with water during the edge polishing process. Such a solution, however, can only clean the glass substrate and cannot protect the non-polished area of the glass substrate from surface damage, such as scraping, caused by the glass chips.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a method for polishing an edge of a glass substrate of a display panel, which is easy to carry out, can effectively protect a non-polished area from contamination and damage caused by glass chips, and can effectively improve operation efficiency.

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a method for polishing edge of glass substrate of display panel, which comprises the following steps:

(1) conveying a glass substrate of a display panel to be polished to a polishing device and positioning the glass substrate for being subsequently polished by a grindstone of the polishing device;

(2) providing first and second stop boards;

(3) moving the first stop board to contact an upper surface of the glass substrate and moving the second stop board to contact a lower surface of the glass substrate; and

(4) carrying out an edge polishing operation.

In step (2), the first and second stop boards are in the form of a flat plate and have a width greater than width of the glass substrate.

In step (3), the first and second stop boards are perpendicular to the glass substrate after the movements.

In step (2), the first and second stop boards have ends facing the glass substrate and provided respectively with first and second cushioning bodies for contacting the glass substrate.

The first and second cushioning bodies have a cross section that is wedge-shaped and are made of an elastic material.

The first and second cushioning bodies are made a rubber material.

In step (3), the first and second stop boards are located adjacent to the grindstone after the movements.

Step (4) includes spraying water mist and then rotating the grindstone to polish the glass substrate, and at the same time discharging the water mist and chips generated by the polishing.

The display panel is a display panel of an organic light-emitting device.

The display panel is a display panel of a liquid crystal display device.

The present invention also provides a method for polishing edge of glass substrate of display panel, which comprises the following steps:

(1) conveying a glass substrate of a display panel to be polished to a polishing device and positioning the glass substrate for being subsequently polished by a grindstone of the polishing device;

(2) providing first and second stop boards;

(3) moving the first stop board to contact an upper surface of the glass substrate and moving the second stop board to contact a lower surface of the glass substrate; and

(4) carrying out an edge polishing operation;

wherein in step (2), the first and second stop boards are in the form of a flat plate and have a width greater than width of the glass substrate;

wherein in step (3), the first and second stop boards are perpendicular to the glass substrate after the movements;

wherein in step (2), the first and second stop boards have ends facing the glass substrate and provided respectively with first and second cushioning bodies for contacting the glass substrate;

wherein the first and second cushioning bodies have a cross section that is wedge-shaped and are made of an elastic material;

wherein the first and second cushioning bodies are made a rubber material;

wherein in step (3), the first and second stop boards are located adjacent to the grindstone after the movements;

wherein step (4) includes spraying water mist and then rotating the grindstone to polish the glass substrate, and at the same time discharging the water mist and chips generated by the polishing; and

wherein the display panel is a display panel of an organic light-emitting device.

The efficacy of the present invention is that the method for polishing edge of glass substrate of display panel according to the present invention arranges stop boards between a polished area and a non-polished area of a glass substrate to protect the glass substrate from chips with the stop boards in a polishing operation so as to effectively prevent the glass chips generated by the polishing device polishing the polished area of the glass substrate from flying to the non-polished area of the glass substrate and thus effectively protect surfaces of the non-polished area, prevent surface damages of the non-polished area of the glass substrate from affecting subsequent manufacturing processes, and significantly lower down the cost. Further, the stop boards are provided, at ends thereof facing the glass substrate, with cushioning bodies for effectively cushioning the vibrations caused by the abrasion between the glass substrate and the polishing device thereby greatly reducing the damages of the glass substrate caused by such vibrations.

For better understanding of the features and technical contents of the present invention, reference will be made to the following detailed description of the present invention and the attached drawings. However, the drawings are provided for the purposes of reference and illustration and are not intended to impose undue limitations to the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The technical solution, as well as beneficial advantages, of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments of the present invention, with reference to the attached drawings. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view showing a conventional liquid crystal display device;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing the structure of the conventional liquid crystal display device;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the structure of a conventional organic light-emitting display panel;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a method for polishing edge of glass substrate of display panel according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is schematic view illustrating the relationship among a stop board, a polishing device, and a glass substrate that move relative to each other in the method for polishing edge of glass substrate of display panel according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is schematic view illustrating the relative positions among a stop board, a glass substrate, and a polishing device during edge polishing carried out with the method for polishing edge of glass substrate of display panel according to the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is schematic view showing positional relationship among components of a polishing device that carries out the method for polishing edge of glass substrate of display panel according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

To further expound the technical solution adopted in the present invention and the advantages thereof, a detailed description is given to a preferred embodiment of the present invention and the attached drawings.

Referring to FIGS. 4-6, the present invention provides a method for polishing edge of glass substrate of display panel, which comprises the following steps:

Step 1: conveying a glass substrate 40 of a display panel to be polished to a polishing device and positioning the glass substrate 40 for being subsequently polished by a grindstone 24 of the polishing device.

The glass substrate 40 comprises a polished area 402 and a non-polished area 404 located beside the polished area 402. The grindstone 24 of the polishing device is set in contact with the polished area 402. Step 1 can be carried out with any known technique and the polishing device can be a known device. The operation of positioning includes fixing the glass substrate 40 at a polishing position on the polishing device.

Step 2: providing first and second stop boards 26, 28.

The first and second stop boards 26, 28 are each in the form of a flat plate and have a width greater than width of the glass substrate 40.

The first and second stop boards 26, 28 have ends facing the glass substrate 40 and provided respectively with first or second cushioning bodies 262, 282 that are made of an elastic material, preferably a rubber material, having predetermined elasticity. The first and second cushioning bodies 262, 282 have a cross section that is wedge-shaped of which the width gradually reduces from the first and second stop boards 26, 28 toward the glass substrate 40. Due to the predetermined elasticity, the first and second cushioning bodies 262, 282 may not cause damage to the glass substrate 40. Further, the first and second cushioning bodies 262, 282 may provide cushioning to the vibration generated by the grindstone 24 polishing the polished area 402 of the glass substrate 40 so as to prevent the vibration generated by the grindstone 24 of the polishing device from causing damage to the glass substrate 40 in polishing the polished area 402 of the glass substrate 40.

Step 3: moving the first stop board 26 to contact an upper surface of the glass substrate 40 and moving the second stop board 28 to contact a lower surface of the glass substrate 40.

After the movements, the first and second stop boards 26, 28 are perpendicular to the glass substrate 40. Preferably, the first and second stop boards 26, 28 are movable in the directions perpendicular to the glass substrate 40.

After the movements, the first and second stop boards 26, 28 are located adjacent to the grindstone 24. Preferably, the first and second stop boards 26, 28 are in contact with the glass substrate 40 at a location between the polished area 402 and the non-polished area 404 so as to isolate the non-polished area 404 from the polished area 402 and the grindstone 24 to effectively prevent glass chips generated by the polishing operation that the grindstone 24 of the polishing device applied to the polished area 402 from flying to the non-polished area 404.

Referring to FIG. 5 (in which arrows indicate movement directions of the components) and FIG. 6, in the instant embodiment, the glass substrate 40 is conveyed in a direction toward the grindstone 24 of the polishing device. After the polished area 402 of the glass substrate 40 is brought into contact with the grindstone 24 of the polishing device, the first and second cushioning bodies 262, 282 of the first and second stop boards 26, 28 are respectively positioned on the upper and lower surfaces of the glass substrate 40. In the instant embodiment, the movements of the first and second stop boards 26, 28 are generally independent of each other. Preferably, the upper bound of the movement of the second stop board 28 is being substantially flush with the lower surface of the glass substrate 40, whereby the movement of the first stop board 26 can be adjusted to suit to different thicknesses of various glass substrates 40.

Step 4: carrying out an edge polishing operation.

Step 4 includes spraying water mist and then rotating the grindstone 24 to polish the glass substrate 40, and the same time, discharging the water mist and chips generated by the polishing.

Referring to FIG. 7, in Step 4, when the grindstone 24 of the polishing device carries out polishing of the polished area 402 of the glass substrate 40, a mist spraying device 27 is employed to spray water mist to the upper and lower surfaces of the polished area 402 of the glass substrate 40. The water mist rinses the glass substrate 40 and at the same time provides a cooling effect to prevent the heat generated by the abrasion between the grindstone 24 of the polishing device and the glass substrate 40 from causing deformation of the glass substrate 40. At the same time, a mist discharging device 29 is employed to discharge the water mist sprayed from the mist spraying device 27 and the glass chips generated by the polishing operation of the grindstone 24 of the polishing device so as to clear the polished area 402 of the glass substrate 40.

The mist spraying device 27 can be arranged between the first and second stop boards 26, 28 and the grindstone 24 of the polishing device, while the mist discharging device 29 is located rearward of the grindstone 24 of the polishing device. During the polishing operation, the mist spraying device 27 and the mist discharging device 29 are used in combination with the first and second stop boards 26, 28 to clear off the glass chips.

Afterwards, when Step 4 is completed, the first and second stop boards 26, 28 are moved away from the glass substrate 40 and the glass substrate 40 is conveyed off the polishing location.

In summary, the method for polishing edge of glass substrate of display panel according to the present invention arranges stop boards between a polished area and a non-polished area of a glass substrate to protect the glass substrate from chips with the stop boards in a polishing operation so as to effectively prevent the glass chips generated by the polishing device polishing the polished area of the glass substrate from flying to the non-polished area of the glass substrate and thus effectively protect surfaces of the non-polished area, prevent surface damages of the non-polished area of the glass substrate from affecting subsequent manufacturing processes, and significantly lower down the cost. Further, the stop boards are provided, at ends thereof facing the glass substrate, with cushioning bodies for effectively cushioning the vibrations caused by the abrasion between the glass substrate and the polishing device thereby greatly reducing the damages of the glass substrate caused by such vibrations.

Based on the description given above, those having ordinary skills of the art may easily contemplate various changes and modifications associated with the technical solution and technical ideas of the present invention and all these changes and modifications are considered within the protection scope of right for the present invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for polishing edge of glass substrate of display panel, comprising the following steps: (1) conveying a glass substrate of a display panel to be polished to a polishing device and positioning the glass substrate for being subsequently polished by a grindstone of the polishing device; (2) providing first and second stop boards; (3) moving the first stop board to contact an upper surface of the glass substrate and moving the second stop board to contact a lower surface of the glass substrate; and (4) carrying out an edge polishing operation.
 2. The method for polishing edge of glass substrate of display panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein in step (2), the first and second stop boards are in the form of a flat plate and have a width greater than width of the glass substrate.
 3. The method for polishing edge of glass substrate of display panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein in step (3), the first and second stop boards are perpendicular to the glass substrate after the movements.
 4. The method for polishing edge of glass substrate of display panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein in step (2), the first and second stop boards have ends facing the glass substrate and provided respectively with first and second cushioning bodies for contacting the glass substrate.
 5. The method for polishing edge of glass substrate of display panel as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first and second cushioning bodies have a cross section that is wedge-shaped and are made of an elastic material.
 6. The method for polishing edge of glass substrate of display panel as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first and second cushioning bodies are made a rubber material.
 7. The method for polishing edge of glass substrate of display panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein in step (3), the first and second stop boards are located adjacent to the grindstone after the movements.
 8. The method for polishing edge of glass substrate of display panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein step (4) includes spraying water mist and then rotating the grindstone to polish the glass substrate, and at the same time discharging the water mist and chips generated by the polishing.
 9. The method for polishing edge of glass substrate of display panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the display panel is a display panel of an organic light-emitting device.
 10. The method for polishing edge of glass substrate of display panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the display panel is a display panel of a liquid crystal display device.
 11. A method for polishing edge of glass substrate of display panel, comprising the following steps: (1) conveying a glass substrate of a display panel to be polished to a polishing device and positioning the glass substrate for being subsequently polished by a grindstone of the polishing device; (2) providing first and second stop boards; (3) moving the first stop board to contact an upper surface of the glass substrate and moving the second stop board to contact a lower surface of the glass substrate; and (4) carrying out an edge polishing operation; wherein in step (2), the first and second stop boards are in the form of a flat plate and have a width greater than width of the glass substrate; wherein in step (3), the first and second stop boards are perpendicular to the glass substrate after the movements; wherein in step (2), the first and second stop boards have ends facing the glass substrate and provided respectively with first and second cushioning bodies for contacting the glass substrate; wherein the first and second cushioning bodies have a cross section that is wedge-shaped and are made of an elastic material; wherein the first and second cushioning bodies are made a rubber material; wherein in step (3), the first and second stop boards are located adjacent to the grindstone after the movements; wherein step (4) includes spraying water mist and then rotating the grindstone to polish the glass substrate, and at the same time discharging the water mist and chips generated by the polishing; and wherein the display panel is a display panel of an organic light-emitting device. 